Four-star 2023 Louisiana linebacker Tackett Curtis has quickly emerged as a priority target for Ohio State over the past month. After initially recruiting Curtis while he was at Oklahoma State, Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has made a significant effort to recruit Curtis to Columbus, taking two trips to Many, Louisiana, in January to visit the 6-foot-2, 218-pound prospect.
I would like to thank @CoachJimKnowles for offering me a scholarship to play football for The Ohio State University #GoBucks #ManyMade pic.twitter.com/1Zf3ZhIuWx
— TACKETT CURTIS (@curtis_tackett) January 18, 2022
We appreciate Ohio State DC @CoachJimKnowles for flying back to Many High school today! We appreciate him for making time to get back to by our school and recruiting our kids! #ManyMade #GoBucks #Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/jmhPhLP5fr
— Jess Curtis (@coach_jcurtis) January 28, 2022
In 13 games for Many High School this past season, Curtis racked up 103 total tackles (12.5 for loss), a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Curtis, ranked as the 63rd-best prospect and the fifth-best linebacker in the 2023 class per 247Sports' composite rankings, took a few minutes to chat with Eleven Warriors on Thursday about his recruitment and his thoughts on the Buckeyes.
This interview has been edited slightly for length and clarity.
Q: Starting off, what did it feel like to be offered by Ohio State?
Tackett Curtis: It was awesome, it was a crazy moment. Just knowing how good Ohio State’s offense is, and then once coach Knowles gets things rolling, how good their defense is going to be. They’re going to have a good team, so it’s exciting to be offered by them. Huge opportunity for me.
Q: Did you have any previous experience with Jim Knowles? Did he recruit you while he was at Oklahoma State?
Curtis: He was always on me at Oklahoma State. We took a visit out there to go see them during the summer, and we loved it. We had a great time. We had a great relationship throughout the whole year. When I saw him make the switch to Ohio State, he started getting back on me. He told me ‘It’s the same deal, just a different logo.’ So he still sees the potential in me.
Q: What does it say to you that Knowles has already taken two trips to Louisiana to see you?
Curtis: It shows he has a lot of interest in me. When you come down here twice, it’s not easy to get down here twice, so it means a lot that he did that.
Q: What stands out about coach Knowles to you? What’s he like to talk to in recruiting?
Curtis: He’s a tough guy. That’s what I like about him. I think he’s going to bring that same energy to the defense and make the defense tough and aggressive. That’s the kind of defense I want to play for.
Q: Has he talked to you about where you fit into his scheme?
Curtis: He says he wants me to be the Mike linebacker. And that he wants to build the defense around me. He wants me to be like how (former Oklahoma State linebacker) Malcolm Rodriguez was at Oklahoma State and how he was one of the leading tacklers. He wants me to do that same thing at Ohio State. He says I have all the measurables, even better than Rodriguez, so once he can get me under his wing he’ll be fired up about what he can do with me.
Q: Obviously you have a ton of offers. Where does Ohio State’s offer stack up in comparison?
Curtis: They’re definitely one of my favorites. Just because of coach Knowles and the tradition of the program. I know they have a winning culture and they’re always going to be competing for a championship. That makes them exciting and a very interesting offer for me. They’re definitely up there with some of my favorites.
Q: How difficult would it be to go far from home even if you really liked the program and everything it had to offer?
Curtis: That’s not a huge factor for me. I’m just looking for the best fit. If that’s in Ohio, that’s where I’m going to go.
Q: Being a Louisiana guy, were you an LSU fan growing up?
Curtis: No sir. They were actually my brother’s favorite. So I rooted for Alabama to go against him. But now I just like watching all the teams. I don’t have a favorite anymore.
Q: What would you say your best attribute is as a linebacker?
Curtis: I’d say how physical I am and how fast I can get to the ball carrier. I think that’s my best attribute. I’ve got speed too. I can run and make plays from both sidelines and play the whole field.
Q: You’re scheduled to face off against five-star quarterback Arch Manning’s high school team early next season. What’s that going to be like?
Curtis: That’s going to be a crazy game. They’re coming down here, so that’s going to be crazy. I’m amped up about it for sure. It’s going to be a great experience having two top-ranked players in the 2023 class going up against each other. It’s going to be a great matchup, it’ll definitely make he and I better. I’m looking forward to it.
Q: Do you have any plans to take a visit to Ohio State in the near future?
Curtis: Yes sir. We haven’t made my schedule of where we’re going to go yet. But we definitely plan on trying to get up there and seeing coach Knowles and the defensive staff and see how they run things up there. I’m sure it will be either the spring or the summer.
Q: A lot of 2023 recruits are wanting to get their college decision over with by the time their senior year starts. Do you have a commitment timeline in mind, or are you going to slow play it?
Curtis: I want to decide before I start my senior year. But if I’m torn between two, it might go on just a little bit. But I’d like to have it down before my senior year starts, so by the end of this summer.
Q: What are some of your other top schools you’re interested in besides Ohio State?
Curtis: I went and got to visit about 10 schools this summer. I really liked all of them and there’s a bunch of schools that saw me in January. Most of the teams that came and saw me and are showing the most interest in me, those are the teams that I’ll probably go out and see again.
Q: What’s really going to separate schools in your recruiting process as you figure out which one is best for you?
Curtis: It’s tough because they’re all great universities and great coaches, best of the best. They all have advantages and benefits, but they’re all just great. So that makes it so tough with the relationships I’ve built with each and every coach. But I’ll find out who’s my favorite. What it really comes down to for me is the relationship with coaches and the staff, the culture of the program and how I see myself fitting into that defense. Those are the top priorities for me.
Q: I see your high school coach is your uncle. What’s it like playing for him?
Curtis: It’s something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a kid, and he’s always wanted to coach me. So it’s awesome for both of us that we’re living out the dream right now.
